BaL 2.07.22 - Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30 Building a Library

Elin Manahan Thomas compares recordings of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis and chooses her favourite.

Beethoven’s setting of the Solemn Mass is one of the monuments of choral music. Written between 1819 and 1823, it is widely thought of as one of Beethoven’s towering achievements. It was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria, one of Beethoven’s most generous patrons as well as pupil and friend. The copy given to Rudolf was inscribed with the phrase: “From the heart – may it return to the heart!”

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Available versions:-

Teresa Stich-Randall, Hilde Rössel-Majdan, Julius Patzak, Gottlob Frick, Wiener Sinfoniker, Volkmar Andreae

Tina Kiberg, Waltraud Meier, John Aler, Robert Holl, Samuel Magad, David Schrader, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim *

Ursula Fiedler, Jakob Stampfli, Barbara Holzl, Werner Hollweg, Russian National Orchestra, Sveshnikov Boys and Men’s Choir, Moscow Radio Children’s Choir, Rudolf Barshai *

Isobel Baillie, Mary Jarred, Heddle Nash, Keith Falkner, Leeds Festival Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham

Johanna Winkel, Sophie Harmsen, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Arttu Kataja, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Hofkapelle Stuttgart, Frieder Bernius

Johanna Winkel, Sophie Harmsen, Sebastian Kohlhepp, Arttu Kataja, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Hofkapelle Stuttgart, Frieder Bernius (DVD/Blu-ray)

Eileen Farrell, Carol Smith Richard Lewis, Kim Borg, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Westminster Choir, Leonard Bernstein

Edda Moser, Hanna Schwarz, René Kollo, Kurt Moll, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation Chorus, Hilversum, Leonard Bernstein *

NYPO, Leonard Bernstein

Simone Schneider, Gerhild Romberger, Richard Croft , Jochen Kupfer, Gewandhausorchester & MDR Rundfunkchor, Herbert Blomstedt

Margaret Price, Christa Ludwig, Wieslaw Ochman, Martti Talvela, Wiener Philharmoniker, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Karl Böhm *

Maria Stader, Siegfried Borries, Wolfgang Meyer, Josef Greindl, Marianna Radev, Anton Dermota, Berliner Philharmoniker, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral Choir, Berlin, Karl Böhm

Anna Tomowa-Sintow , Patricia Payne, Robert Tear, Robert Lloyd, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis

Tina Kiberg, Rosemarie Lang, William Cochran, Mikhail Krutikov, University of Maryland Chorus, European Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Anne Schwanewilms, Annette Jahns, Nikolai Schukoff , Dietrich Henschel , London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Christoph Eschenbach

Lucy Crowe, Jennifer Johnston, James Gilchrist, Matthew Rose, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique & Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Charlotte Margiono, Catherine Robbin, William Kendall, Alastair Miles, Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner

Alison Hargan, Marjana Lipov�ek, Thomas Moser, Matthias Hölle, Wiener Singverein, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Michael Gielen

Luba Orgonasova, Birgit Remmert, Christian Elsner, Bjarni Thor Kristinsson, EuropaChorAkademie & Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Gielen

Christine Brewer, Jane Henschel , Eric Owens, Anthony Dean Griffey, New York Choral Artists, New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert *

Dame Janet Baker, Hans Sotin, Heather Harper, Robert Tear, New Philharmonia Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini *

Susanne Bernhard, Anke Vondung, Pavol Breslik, Yorck Felix Speer, Orchester und Kammerchor der Klangverwaltung, Enoch zu Guttenberg

Susanne Bernhard , Anke Vondung , Pavol Breslik, Yorck Felix Speer, Orchester und Kammerchor der KlangVerwaltung, Enoch zu Guttenberg (DVD/Blu-ray)

Genia Kühmeier, Elisabeth Kulman, Mark Padmore, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Chor and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bernard Haitink

Marlis Petersen, Elisabeth Kulman, Werner Güra, Gerald Finley, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Netherlands Radio Choir, Nikolaus Harnoncourt (DVD/Blu-ray)

Laura Aikin, Bernarda Fink, Johannes Chum, Ruben Drole, Concentus Musicus Wien & Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Eva Mei, Marjana Lipovsek, Robert Holl, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Marlis Petersen, Gerhild Romberger, Benjamin Hulett, David Wilson-Johnson, Collegium Vocale Gent & Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe

Rosa Mannion, Birgit Remmert, James Taylor, Cornelius Hauptmann, La Chapelle Royale Choir, Collegium Vocale Gent & Orchestre des Champs Elysees, Philippe Herreweghe

Polina Pasztircsák, Sophie Harmsen, Steve Davislim, Johannes Weisser, Freiburger Barockorchester, RIAS Kammerchor, René Jacobs *

Regine Hangler, Elisabeth Kulman, Christian Elsner, Franz-Josef Selig, MDR-Rundfunkchor Leipzig & Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, Marek Janowski *

Agnes Giebel, Marga Höffgen, Ernst Haefliger, Karl Ridderbusch, Netherlands Radio Chorus, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eugen Jochum

Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, Fritz Wunderlich, Walter Berry, Wiener Singverein & Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Nicolai Gedda, Nicola Zaccaria, Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Wiener Singverein, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan *

Birgit Nilsson, Gösta Böckelin, Stockholm Philharmonic Chor, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Erich Kleiber

Elisabeth Söderström, Marga Hoffgen, Waldemar Kmentt, Martti Talvela, New Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Otto Klemperer

Ilona Steingruber, Else Schürhoff, Erich Majkut , Otto Wiener, Wiener Akademiechor, Wiener Symphoniker, Otto Klemperer *

Annelies Kupper, Sieglinde Wagner, Rudolf Schock, Josef Greindl, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Kölner Rundfunkchor, Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks, Otto Klemperer

Nan Merriman, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Jozsef Simandy, Heinz Rehfuss, Collegium Musicum Amstelodamense, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam Toonkunst Choir, Otto Klemperer (SACD)

Trude Eipperle, Luise Willer, Julius Patzak, Georg Hann, Chorus of the Vienna State Opera, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Clemens Krauss *

Helen Donath, Brigitte Fassbaender, Peter Schreier, John Shirley-Quirk, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelík

Ingrid Kaiserfeld, Hermine Haselbock, Wolfram Wittekind, Liang Li. Bolzano-Trento Haydn Orchestra, Chorus Academy of the Tyrolean Festival, Gustav Kuhn

Marianne Hirsti, Carolyn Watkinson, Andrew Murgatroyd, Michael George, Oslo Cathedral Choir, The Hanover Band, Terje Kvam

Bozena Harasimowicz, Monica Groop, Jerry Hadley, Franz-Josef Selig, London Philharmonic Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Gilbert Levine (DVD)

Cheryl Studer, Jessye Norman, Plácido Domingo, Kurt Moll, Leipziger Rundfunkchor, Schwedischer Rundfunkchor, Eric-Ericson-Kammerchor, Wiener Philharmoniker, James Levine

Camilla Nylund, Birgit Remmert, Christian Elsner. René Pape, Staatsopernchor Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden, Fabio Luisi (DVD)

Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Annelies Burmeister, Peter Schreier Hermann Christian Polster, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur

Alastair Miles, Amanda Halgrimson, Cornelia Kallisch, John Aler, North German Radio Chorus, South West German Vocal Ensemble Choir, South West German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington *

Martina Arroyo , Maureen Forrester, Richard Lewis, Cesare Siepi, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy *

Timothy Bentch, Ed Bara, Jody Kidwell, Sarah Davis, Ama Deus Ensemble
Valentin Radu *

Carolyn Sampson, Marianne Beate Kielland, Thomas Walker, David Wilson-Johnson, Cappella Amsterdam, Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Daniel Reuss

Pamela Coburn, Florence Quivar, Aldo Baldin, Andreas Schmidt, Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling

Lori Phillips, Robynne Redmon, James Taylor, Jay Baylon, Nashville Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Kenneth Schermerhorn

Maria Stader, Elsa Cavelti, Ernst Haefliger Heinz Rehfuss, Northwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral Choir, Swiss Romande Orchestra, Carl Schuricht *

Tom Krause, John Aler, Janice Taylor, Sylvia McNair, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Robert Shaw *

Helen Donath, Doris Soffel, Siegfried Jerusalem, Hans Sotin, Edinburgh Festival Chorus & London Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Solti

Gwynne Howell, Mallory Walker, Lucia Popp, Yvonne Minton, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti *

Iris Vermillion, Julia Varady, Vinson Cole, René Pape, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Georg Solti *

Hillevi Martinpelto, Elena Zaremba, Herbert Lippert, Ronnie Johansen, Philharmonischer Chor Brno, Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn, Marc Soustrot

Heather Harper, Julia Hamari, Sven Olof Eliasson, Peter Meven, Kölner Rundfunkchor & Sinfonie-Orchester, William Steinberg

Ann-Helen Moen, Roxana Constantinescu, James Gilchrist, Benjamin Bevan, Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki (SACD)

Sara Endich, Florence Koppleff, Ernst Haefliger, Ezio Flagello, Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, George Szell *



Krassimira Stoyanova, Elina Garanca, Michael Schade, Franz-Josef Selig, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann (DVD/Blu-ray)


Elisabeth Rethberg, Marion Telva, Giovanni Martinella , Ezio Pinza, New York Schola Cantorum & New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini

Zinka Milanov, Bruna Castagna, Jussi Björling, Alexander Kipnis, Westminster Choir, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini

Jerome Hines, Nan Merriman, Lois Marshall, Eugene Conley, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini *

Zinka Milanov, Kerstin Thorborg, Koloman von Pataky, Nicola Moscona, BBC Choral Society, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini *


Eleanor Steber, Nan Merriman, William Hain, Lorenzo Alvary, Westminster Choir, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter *


Leonore Kirschstein , Jeanne Deroubaix, Peter Schreier, Günther Morbach, Gürzenich Orchestra Köln, Gürzenich Chor Köln, Günter Wand


* = download only

[richardfinegold]

Didn’t the wily Ludwig have about 4 different publishers vying for this?
I’ll be honest—my favorite part is the mini Violin Concerto. For some reason the work as a whole doesn’t resonate with me, unlike Mozart Requiem, or the Masses of Schubert and Haydn. The last I listened to was Toscanini

[Darloboy]

Yet another work that was covered by BaL in 2012.

Previous BaL choices include:

Trevor Harvey (December 78): New Philharmonia/Klemperer
Richard Osborne (January 89): New Philharmonia/Klemperer + Karajan 1966 also recommended. Kvam's period recording with the Hanover Band was discussed at some length.
John Deathridge (Jan 96) Herreweghe (the version with Mannion, Remmert etc) + Klemperer/New Phih & James Levine as more traditional recommendations
John Deathridge again (December 2012): Giulini with Toscanini's BBC SO recording as runner-up. He still rated the Herreweghe as the best of the period versions if I recall correctly. Interestingly Deathridge dismissed the Giulini out of hand in his 1996 review as not worthy of consideration.

[Mario]

Sorry for speaking in absolutes, and I know a lot of posters will be angry with me, but from all the music that I have ever listened to, this is the very greatest piece written by anyone, anywhere, ever.

I can't be more tactful and more low-key than that, can I?

[richardfinegold]

Sorry for speaking in absolutes, and I know a lot of posters will be angry with me, but from all the music that I have ever listened to, this is the very greatest piece written by anyone, anywhere, ever.

I can't be more tactful and more low-key than that, can I?

Why would anyone be angry with you? Enjoy!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I’ll be honest—my favorite part is the mini Violin Concerto.

Same here, and in this section (the Benedictus) Bohm and the VPO are superb.
Elsewhere, I feel there's a certain muddiness within the general texture, with several versions.

[CallMePaul]

I am only interested in HIPP versions of this and would probably plump for Suzuki, or just possibly Harnoncourt. How anyone could get pleasure from the atrocious sound of Toscanini recordings is beyond me, whatever the quality of the performance. Surely they can be of historic interest only? At least on this occasion we have a reviewer more likely to be sympathetic to period performance, judging by her day job.

[RichardB]

I am only interested in HIPP versions of this

Me too, although I have to say I find it a very difficult work to get into. I have Gardiner's first recording on the shelf but I can't remember the last time it moved from there except when moving house. I would be quite interested in hearing the most recent Harnoncourt one though.

[Petrushka]

Sorry for speaking in absolutes, and I know a lot of posters will be angry with me, but from all the music that I have ever listened to, this is the very greatest piece written by anyone, anywhere, ever.

It's a score draw with the Bruckner 8 for me, both striking awe in the listener.

I have a very special place in my heart for the live LPO/Solti from the 1982 Proms, first because I was present at the performance and secondly because I went backstage afterwards and met all of the soloists and Solti. I have the programme signed by them all by me as I write. It probably won't win a BaL but some things are much more important than that and this would be my desert island disc.

On a more conventional level, I particularly like the BPO/Karajan 1974 EMI/Warner recording but the most electrifying one I've come across is Masur with the Leipzig Gewandhaus with terrific choral singing. I prefer the later JEG recording to his first though both are very fine. I couldn't get on with the latest Harnoncourt at all.

[Goon525]

Same here, and in this section (the Benedictus) Bohm and the VPO are superb.
Elsewhere, I feel there's a certain muddiness within the general texture, with several versions.

I remember being captivated by the Bohm when it came out (as was TH in Gramophone). I’ll admit I haven’t listened to it in decades. I have enjoyed some HIPP versions, but there’s also a late Haitink performance (BRSO?) that takes some beating in a more traditional mode.

[RichardB]

I couldn't get on with the latest Harnoncourt at all.

What did you not like about it? I'm listening to it now, after two movements of the newer Gardiner, and preferring it greatly so far.

(edit) ... in fact I think I'm finally getting it, for the first time!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of my greatest regrets is that Furtwängler never recorded the work. But he performed it several times in his younger days.

https://www.wienersymphoniker.at/en/veranstaltung/furtwaengler-foerstel-bauer-milecha-gallos-singverein-beethoven-missa-solemnis

[MickyD]

Me too, although I have to say I find it a very difficult work to get into. I have Gardiner's first recording on the shelf but I can't remember the last time it moved from there except when moving house. I would be quite interested in hearing the most recent Harnoncourt one though.

Ditto with all of that. I also have the companion Mass in C from Gardiner, which I can't even remember hearing!

[richardfinegold]

I am only interested in HIPP versions of this and would probably plump for Suzuki, or just possibly Harnoncourt. How anyone could get pleasure from the atrocious sound of Toscanini recordings is beyond me, whatever the quality of the performance. Surely they can be of historic interest only? At least on this occasion we have a reviewer more likely to be sympathetic to period performance, judging by her day job.

I’m listening to the 1953 Toscanini as restored on Pristine. It’s surely listenable. Perhaps you have no tolerance for historical recordings